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Introduction to eighteenth-century politics

For this general introduction I suggest you dip into one or more of these 'iconic' monographs on 18th century politics:
  • JCD Clark, British Society, 1688-1832
  • Linda Colley, Britons
  • Kathleen Wilson, The sense of the people

For general text books see:

  • Frank O'Gorman, The Long Eighteenth-century
  • H T Dickinson (ed.), A Companion to Eighteenth-Century Britain
  • Boyd Hilton, A Mad, Bad and Dangerous People? England 1783-1846.
 
You may wish to consider the following questions:
 
  • What was the pattern of politics in the Hanoverian period?
  • How representative was politics?
  • What were the major engines of change?
  • Why do historians disagree about the nature of Hanoverian politics?
 
But please feel free to frame questions of your own and to use the introductory session to raise any questions you have about the period.

All the talents upset or the high-mettled Hanoverian grown restive 

All the talents upset or the high-mettled Hanoverian grown restive (British Museum Prints and Drawings, 10716)